mcclave



W. McCLAVE.

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1916- 1,318,579. Patented Oct. 14,1919.

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FURNAQE'CONSTRUCIION. APPLICATION FILED DEIh 20. 1926'.

Patented Oct. 14,1919.

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Patented Oct. 14

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W. McCLAVE.

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED mac. 20. I916.

Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

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pose, as the case may require, thereby prac- WILLIAM MoCLAVE, OF SCRAN'ION, PENNSYLVANIA, AS SIGNOR TO McCLAVE-BROOKS COMPANY, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

Application filed December 20, 1916. Serial No. 138,043.

scription of the same, reference being had to.

the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speclficatlon.

This invention relates generally to an 1mproved furnace construction; the primary ob ect in view 18 to provlde a furnace of exceedingly simple construction which 1S particularly adapted for the burning of bituminous coal, and wherein the fuel may be efliciently and evenly underfed to the grate, either by the use of power rams or hand tools especially deslgned for this purtically eliminating smoke as a factor in op erating the furnace. Features of the invention, however, are applicable to other types of furnaces as well, andit will be understood that the scope of the invention is by no means limited to the specific embodiment herein described and illustrated."

In prior constructions embodying the underfeed principle of stoking, it has been cus tomary to employ fuel hoppers inwhich the fuel is deposited before being delivered to the grate, by power rams or otherwise. These hoppers necessarily occupy a. large space in front of the furnace and are a great inconvenience, because they render access" to the combustion chamber or ash pit of the furnace exceedingly diflicult, when it becomes necessary to insert a tool. for some purpose, such as to' ram fuel down thegrate. Hence, the use of hoppers in front of the furnace has always been regarded as decidedly disadvantageous, in some instances offsetting the advantages accruing from underfe'ed stoking, although, in prior constructions for underfeed stoking, no practical substitute for hoppers has even been proposed, to my knowledge. A special object of the present invention is to dispense with these hoppers,

and to substitute therefor a specially con-' structed fuel receiving channel within the furnace itself, in combination with means for distributing fuel' fed to the channel whereby the fuel may be subsequently underfed to the grate to supply the needs of the fir e. The improved channel will occupy a minimum space in the furnace in front of the fuel receiving end of the grate, and will not prevent the location and use of fire doors in the front of the furnace for permitting access to the combustion chamber when desired.

Other objects of the invention are to gen: erally improve the furnace construction, as Wlll appear from the ensuing detailed dethe accompanying drawings which illustrate a structural embodiment of the invention in a preferred form. The novel features of the lnvention will be particularly pointed out and specified in the claims at the end of the specification. i

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a furnace provided with the present improvements, and embodying power operated stoking mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same.

V Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in planes indicated by the'line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a vertical section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of one of the rams, or pushers hereinafter described.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the ram and its cover plate looking in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the ram and its cover plate, the ram being in section ina plane indicated by the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the ram on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

Fig.9 is a transverse .section of the ram on the line 99Yof Fig. 5.

Fig. 10'is a sectional side elevation similar to Fig.- 2, of a furnace not equipped with power operated stoking mechanism, but embodying features of the present invention.

Fig, 11 is a front elevation of a furnace illustrating an application of the present improvements to an extra wire furnace, wherein a plurality of coal delivery chutes are employed.

Like characters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

The improvements of the present invention are illustrated. in connection with a furnace divided into two divisions or seescription, when taken in connection with v tions, for example, by a pier of brickwork or other refractory mater1al,each d vision being equipped with a grate,-and the two grates are located in a" single combustion' her 4 of said bar being utilized in a manner 7 whichwill hereinafter appear. The hearing bar extends clear across the combustion chamber and is supported byethe sidewalls of the latter in any manner well known in the art, Thelower end of the inclined grate may be supported in any suitable manner, and at said lower end, there is arranged rocking section 5 preferably journaled to oscillate in ibearingsi formed in bearer bars bridged between the lower end of the grate and the forward member (3 of a series of transverse girders or beams, supporting the rear wall 8 of 'thecombustion chamber. In its preferred construction the rocking section 5 is composed of rearwardlysextending fuel supporting and dumpingextensions and forwardly extending segmental sections. Themovementof the rocking section of each grate is controlled by an operating bar or link 9 pivoted toa downwardly extending arm 10 of the rocking section, and extending out through the front wall of the furnace, where said link is pivoted to asuitable operating lever arm 11 located outside the front furnace wall.

Beneath the grate, the bottom of the-com: bustion chamber is extended by means of downwardly inclined flooring sections 12 and 13 to form an ash pit 14 into which the fire may be dumped, as required. The furnace illustrated is particularly adapted for the burning of bituminous coal in thick heavy beds or other coal of like consistency, and, therefore, it is desirable that an artificial draft may be supplied beneath the grate by an inlet 15 at the bottom of the ash pit.

Aside from certain novel details, which will be hereinafter set forth, the main feature of my invention lies in the transverse fuel-receiving channel from which fuel can be efficiently underfed to. thegrate, or grates, either by power rams, or hand tools especially designed for this purpose, as circumstances may require. The present construc tion dispenses altogether with the use of hoppers, and enables the proper location and use of fire doors, while at the same time providing an eflicient underfeed and practically eliminating smoke asa factor in the operation of the furnace.

In theembodiment of the invention illus- .trated in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, power oprigidity and strength the innermost angular portions 20? ,of itherseveral bearing members 20 are bolted to the forward girder member A ofithetransverse grate bearer bar, hereinbefore referred to. According to the presentembodiment, it is intended that the twochannels 16 .be supplied with fuel from 'a .common source, and, therefore, their proximateends are bridged by a plate 21, thereby forming a practically continuous surface or passage way within the furnace on which fuel isspreadout or distributed. The outer ends ofthe channels are inclosed by the side walls 22 of the furnace proper, and from above they are inclosedby the upper dead plate23 (see Fig. 4). Said dead plate-23 is supported in front .by the frontwall 17 of the furnace and and in the rear upon an inner wall or plate 24. Both the upper dead plate 23. and the'inner wall 24 extend transversely substantially clear across the front of the furnace:

Above the'center plate 21 the, upper dead plate 23 ;is provided with a fuel inlet 25 which communicates with the lower end of a vertical .fuel delivery chute 26, the latter 7 upouthe location of thecoal bunkers. Coal falls through the chute 26 .loy gravity and is deposited upon the center plate 21'. As the channels 16 extend clear across the fuel receiving end ,of each grate 2, it is essential that some means be provided for distributing the fuel transversely along the channels, so that it can be subsequently fed to the grate. For this purpose, asweep-or plate 28 is pivoted by a stub shaft 29 in the space above the plate. 21, and is intended to divide the coal as it is discharged by the chute and by a swinging movement push coal first into one channel 16 and next into the. other channel. The stub shaft 29 extends, through the front wall 17; of the furnace and is provided at its outer end with a gear segment 30 (see Fig. 1). In mesh with said gear segment is a rack 31 carried by a block 32 which is adapted .to be reciprocatedin a slideway 33 and swing the gear segment 30, therebyv imparting a swinging movement to the sweep 28. i

For operating the block 32, connections are provided between said block and a main power shaft 34: which is journaled in bearings in the front of the furnace. According to this invention thesaid operating connections are so constructed, that the shaft- 34 will be rotated without interference, when the coal packs against the sweep either on one or both sides of the latter so as to preclude movementof the sweepin either or both directions. In other words, when the pressure of the coal on the sweep becomes great enough so as to interfere with its movement, the sweep will be permitted to remain stationary, while the main shaft rotates, without transmitting any stress to the main shaft. For accomplishing this result a connection is interposed between the sweep and the shaft, which is adapted to yield under pressure of the coal on either one or both sides of the sweep, as will now be described. Secured to the main power shaft 3% is a crank 35 to which is pivoted the lower end of a rod 36. The rod 36 is integral or otherwise rigidly connected with a hollow cylinder 37 and adapted to work within the latter is a rod 38 pivoted at its upper end to the reciprocatory block 32 and furnished at its lower end within the cylinder with a head 39. Beneath-the head 39 in the cylinder 37 is a coil spring 40,.and above the head 39 is a second coil spring 4:1 encircling the rod 38 and bearing on the upper end of the cylinder 37, as shown in Fig. l. The two springs are of equal size and tension and their combined tension 011 the head 39 maintains the latter in a position substantially midway between-the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 37 The springs 40, 41 are also strong enough to transmit reciprocatory motion imparted to the rod 36 and cylinder 37 to the upper rod 38, under normal conditions, 2'. a. before the channels 16 are packed-with coal, and when the latter is being pushedwithout the for mation of excessive pressure into the channels, for subsequent distribution to the grates 2. Under these conditions the motion of the shaft 34 is transmitted to the block 32, which is reciprocated, and thereby imparts a swinging movement to the sweep 28, the latter pushing coal discharged from the chute along first into one. channel 16' and then into the other.

If, however, one channel should pack sooner than the other, movement of the sweep would be retarded'or even entirely prevented in the direction of that channel.

Assuming that the right hand channel illus trated in Fig. 4 is packed with coal and that the left hand channel has not yet been filled, movement of the sweep toward the right could not be effected although the sweep could swing toward the left topush the coal along into the left hand channel. It will be noted that upward movement of the cylinder 37 and rod 38 swings the sweep 28 toward the left and lowering movement of the rod and cylinder swings the sweep toward the right. Under the above stated conditions, no undue resistance will be offered to upward movement of the rod 38, and consequently swinging movement of the sweep to fill the left hand channel will not in any way be affected by packing of the right hand channel, the two springs retaining their normal positions throughout the np-stroke of the several parts of the apparatus. During lowering movement of the cylinder, however, swinging movement of the sweep 28 toward theright is resisted by the coal packed within the right hand channel and consequently the upper rod 38 will be locked against movement. As a result the spring 41 will be compressed between the upper end of cylinder 37 and head 39, the period of compression of said spring corresponding to approximately onehalf the lowering stroke of the cylinder, or one-fourth of a complete operating cycle. During compression of spring ail, spring 40 is unaffected. If the above conditions are reversed, z. 6., when the left-hand channel is packed while the right channel is still re: ceiving fuel, the spring l0 will be compressed on the up-stroke, and a normal clown-stroke of the connections will be .permitted. \Vhen both channels are packed, operation of the shaft 34: will alternately compress the two springs 40,141. It will be noted that the crank 35 is at onehalf its throw, when the sweep 28 is in vertical pendent position, so that the springs can be placed under tension or compressed during only one-half of a stroke in either direction, the other half'of the stroke being c011- sumed in returning the sweep to normal pendent position from an extreme position. on either side.

The lower dead plate 19 of each grate extends down to the fuel-receiving end of its respective grate, and each dead plate is preferably supported by the triangular hearing members 20 at an inclination correspond, ing substantially to the inclination of the grate. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, power operated rams are employed and thus the upper portion 19 of the dead plate lies in a plane below the plane of the grate to provide a depressed channel in which the ram reeiprocates, while the lower portion 19 of the dead plate is flush with the fuel-bearing surface of the grate. At its lower end, each dead plate 19 extends through a transverse slot 24 in the inner wall 24, the upper edge of the slot 24 being somewhat above the plane of the dead plate 19- but sufliciently low to cause the formation of a ridge of fuel behind the wall 24, for purposes which will presently appear. The upper end of the deadvplate extends through a transverse slot 17 in the front wall of the furnace and mounted on saidupper end is a ram cover 42, the upper face of which is preferably flush with the lower portion 19 of the dead plate and conscquently flush with the fuel bearing surface of the grate 2. Preferably the upper edge of the slot 17 is located above the plane of the ram cover 42, whereby a hand tool may be readily inserted to force the fuel from the channel clear down to the lower end of the grate to meet the needs of the fire there.

The ram works beneath the cover 42, and the ram and cover construction, with the means for operating the ram will now be set forth. Referring particularly to Figs. 5 to 9,inclusive, it will be noted that each ram is of a plate-like formation and the lower end of a ram 43 is divided by slots 43 into separate divisions, there being in the present instance two slots which divide the ram into three divisions 43". These slots are for the purpose of receiving dependent flanges 42" formed on the under side of a ram cover 42, the flanges 42 resting on the upper surface ofthe dead plate and thus, the cover 42 1s efiiciently supported above the ramand prevented from falling down on the ram so as to interfere with its movement. Asshown in Fig. 6 the surface of the ram on each side of the slot is downwardly curved, this'being indicated by the reference numeral 43 and the lower edge of the cover adjacent the flanges 42 is similarly curved as at 42 Thus, the surface of the ram at these points will be cleaned, every time the ram is retracted. It will be understood, however, that the curved edges 42 must clear the curved surfaces of the ram so as not to interfere with movements of the latter. On its under side each'ram is provided with racks 43 which are engaged by the teeth of gear segments 44 fixed to a rock shaft 45. The rock shaft 45 is journaled in bearings extending outwardly from the front wall 17 of the furnace. Said shaft is provided with a crank 46 which is pivoted to the upper end of a connecting rod 47. Thelatter is in turn pivoted at its'lowerend to a crank 48 on the main power shaft 34, whereby motion is transmitted to the gear segments 44 to reciprocate the ram and push the fuel in a channel 16 down to the grate below. Preferably, the connecting rod 47 is made adjustab'le as shown in Fig.2, whereby the throw of the crank 46 may be varied to change the extent of movement of the mm.

the outside.

1 from the heat of the combustion chamber.

Above the upper dead plate 23 on each side of the division plates 27, the front of the furnaceis recessed, asshown. J ournaled in bearings formed in :these division plates 27 and the end vertical plates '52-.(see Fig. 3') are the outer and inner: carrying-ears 53, 54 which together support the metal frames 55 of the fire doors. There is a fire door on. each side of the fuel-chute, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, bothiof which arethe same iii-construction, The frame 55 of a firedoor supports a' segmental; section 56 of brick or otherrefractory material, the latter when closed fillingthe opening 57 through-which the combustion chamber maybe opened to The rear face of the brick lining '56 is curved, as shown in Fig. 2 and at its upper edge meets a curved extension or blade 58, the latter being 'adaptedto e111 gage a vertical plate 59 supported in a slot formed in an extension of the angular front wall 60, Tl1e,wall 60 formsthe-frontinclosing member for a chamber 61 which receives preheated air fromany suitable source by a pipe .62 which air is adapted to pass into :the combustion chamber through a nar row passageway 63 between therear face of the fire door and the curved insulated wall64', The fire doors-may be opened and closed by counterweighted lever arms 65 secured respectively to the spindle portions ofcthei'outer cars 53. i i The-fire brick-sections 51 form a protection for the iron work of the channel, and also partly for the iron work of the fire doors, as these sections contact with the lower edge of the fire doors when the latter are closed, as shown in Fig.2. Further pro tection for the ironwork isaffordedbyreason of the fact that the air chamber 61 is constantly sending a current of air down over the'rear face of the fire doors, thereby preventing the brick of the fire-doors from getting very hot. In addition there will always beathin film of air fromthe outside that will pass into the furnace between the lower iron edge of the fire doors and the sections 51 of brick, so thatthese points of contact will not be overheated.

For shutting off the fuel from the channels, the chute is provided with a curved plate or gate (ifipivoted at the points 67. The gate 66 is provided with a hook 68 on its frontface adapted to be engaged by a catch 69 which when so engaged serves to keep the gate elevated and the chute open. When the catch 69 is released the gate 66 will descend by gravity to close the chute. The movement of fuel through the chute may be further controlled by a gate 70'located above the gate 66 and adapted to be operated by a hand lever 71.

In the operation of the furnace, the fuel descends in the chute and is spread along into the channels 16 by the sweep 28f The rams working in the depressions in the lower dead plates catch the fuel in the channels and push a part of it down to the grates below, while turning another part of the fuel upwardly into a ridge located just above the fuel-receiving ,ends of the respective grates, letting the fuel in the ridges coke. When the lower portions of the grate are in need of fuel, hand tools may be passed into the openings 17 over the ram covers whichare flush with-the upper surface of the grate, and thefuel'from these ridges rammed directly down the incline of the grate. It will be noted that all the fuel passes beneath the upper dead plate 23 and that therefore no obstruction is present which would interfere with access to the fire through the openings behind the fire Iciloors, when it becomes necessary to stir the In the form illustrated in Figz lO, the furnace is intended exclusively for hand stoking, the lower dead plate 72 being flush with the fuel bearing surface of the grate throughout its entire extent. The ramming tools will be inserted through the-openings in the front wall of the furnace, as heretofore described. A hand operated sweep 7 3 is also illustrated in connection with the furnace illustrated in Fig. 10. The other features of the furnace are the same substantially as those illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive. For some varieties of bituminous coal it may be necessary to havethe lower dead plate flush with the fuel bearing surface of the grate, throughout the extent of said dead plate, as shown in Fig.10.

even when power rams are employed The use or depth of the depressions in the dead plate can best be determined by practice and the character. of the fuel. a

In the case of an extra wide furnace which may have a single wide combustion chamber or several combustion chambers arranged one after the other in a long row and .separated by: the usual parting walls,

the inclosed fuel receiving channel may extend along in front of the single wide combustion chamber, or all the way along in front of several combustion chambers, in the same manner as illustrated in Figs. 2

and 4, and the fuel pushed down to the grate by rams working in the single combustion chamber orthose portions of the channel in front of the several combustion chambers. With a very long channel, however, it would be diflicult to distribute the fuel properly transversely in the channel, if the channel be supplied by a single chute and the fuel distributed by asingle sweep working beneath the discharge end of the chute. This difliculty may be obviated in an extra wide furnace by supplying the fuel receiving channel in front of the combustion chambers from a number of coal chutes instead of a single chute, the number of chutes being determined by the length of the channel and the width of. the grate sur-" face supplied with fuel-from the channel. A preferred arrangementfor an extra wide furnace is illustrated in Fig. 11, wherein several chutes are employed and the. operation of the sweepsworking beneath the chutes for distributing the fuel transversely is effected by connection withthe toothed segments 30. Two chutes are shown in Fig. 11, although it will be understood that the number of chutes may be increased as practice and the width of the furnace requires, the second chute 26- being similar to chute 26 and located between vertical division plates in exactly the samemanner, as shown in Fig. 4. A sweep 28* similar to sweep 2 8 is pivoted beneath the discharge end of the chute 26 on a pivot pin 29 0 The sweep 28 is oscillated to distribute the fuel transversely in the channel in unison with sweep 28 by the rod 74' having pivoted at its oppositeends links 75, 76, which links are respectively pivoted to the pins 29, 29 What is claimed is T 1. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, the grate supported within the combustion chamber, a substantially inclosed fuel receiving channel within the furnace extending transversely substan-" tially clear'across and in front of the fuel receiving end of the grate, said channel having a transversely extending opening in its front and rear-walls-substantially coextensive with the latter,means for feeding fuel into said channel, andmeans fordistributing the fuel transversely therein, said distributing means and the openings in the walls of the channel being located in different horizontal planes, whereby access may be had to the interior of the combustion chamber through the openings in the channel walls throughout the entire length of said channel.

2. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, the grate supported within the combustion chamber, a substantially inclosed fuel receiving channel within the furnace extending transversely substantially clear across and in front of the fuel receiving end of the grate, said channel havi-ng; a transversely extending opening in its front and; rear alls substantially; coextem sive vvith the latter, a means for. feeding fuel into said channel located centrally beltvveen theopposite ends of the latter, and means for. distributing; the fuel transversely in said channel on each side of said feed ing; means-,-said distributing. means and the openings; in the Walls of the channel being located in different horizontal planes, Whereby. access; may behad to the interior of the. combustion chamber through the openings in the channel Walls throughout the, entire. length ofsaid channel.

3.- A furnace eonstruction comprising the combustion chamber,- the grate supported in an inclined: position within said combustion chamben; a substantially; inclosed fuel receiving I channel Within the furnace ex tendingfsubstantially clear across: in front of'theiupper endof: the'grate, said channel h 'W-ingi-a transversely extending: opening: inits front and rear walls: substantially coex tens-ive with 'the, latter; means for feeding fuel into saidcliannel', and means: for distributing the fuel transversely; therein, said: distributing. means} and the openings in the walls ofi the: channel? being; located in different horizontalplanes, whereby access may. be had .topthe. interior of the combustion; chamberithronghtheopenings in the channel? Walls: throughout thefentiref length: of said channeL.

4-.- A furnace construction comprising J the, combustion chamber, the: grate "supported in) an: inclinedpositionwithin said combustion chamber, a1 substantially inclosed fuel receiving "channel within the furnace ex. tending substantially clear. across in front of the"up1: en.'end: of'the. grate; said channel liavin a; transversely extending opening in. its front and? rear ival-lsf substantially coextensive Wltli'i thelatterya fii'el door. in; the furnace Wall located above: the channel, means for feeding: fuel. into said! channel, and: means for: distributing the: fuel: transversely therein.

I 5. A: furnace construction comprising the combustion.- chamber, the grate. supported in an inclined positiomwithiir said 'combus+ tion chamben: affuele receiving channel 101-: cated: behind! the none W2Lll1' of the, furnace and: extending substantially; clean across 5 in; front of the upperaend; of: the grate, said? channel: having 1a transversely extending; opening in its frontl and; IBillliXVitl'lS substanitiallyi coextensive with? said 'walls itIldi sub stantially in alinement 'With the fiielfsupponting surface of? the grate fire: doors in the fronu furnace! Walll located above thei fuel receivingi channelt means intermediate said he doors' for feedingffuel into said? channel and: means for; distributing: the fuel transversely in the channel;

6n A' furnace construction comprising the" combustionchamber, thegrate supported in an inclined position ithin said combustion, a fuel receiving channel located behind the front Wall of the furnace and extending substantially clear across inafront of the upper end of the grate, said channel having a transversely extending opening in its front and rear Walls substantially coextensive with said 1 Walls and substantially in alinement with the fuel supporting surface of the grate, fire doors, in the: front furnace Wall located above the fuel receiving channel, means intermediateysaid 'fire doors for feeding fuel into said channel, means for distributing: the fuel transversely therein, and a ram Working. Within the channel for pushing fuel fromthe same down on to-the grate.

7. combustion chamber, the grate supported Within the combustion chamber, a substan tially inclosed' fuel receivingvchannel Within the furnace extending transversely substantially-clear across and in front of the fuel receiving end of the grate, said channel having; a transversely. extending-opening in its; front and rear Walls substantially coextensive W lth the latter, aufire door located in the, furnace Wall above the fuelg receiving channel, means located on one side of the fire door for feeding fuel into said; channel, and means for distributing the fuel transversely therein. I

8; A furnace construction comprising. the combustion chamber, the grate supported Within: the: combustion chamber, a substantially inclosed fuel. receiving channel Within the furnace extending" transversely substantially clear acrossfiand .in; front of the fuel receiving end of the grate, saidchannel haw ing a transversely extending opening, in its front and rear Walls substantially coextensive With'the latter, means 'for' feeding fuel into.- said: channel; means for distributing the fueltransversely therein; and means for pushing the fuel fromthe channel-onto. the grate, said" distributing: means and the openings inthe Walls ofthe. channel: being located in different horizontal; planes, whereby access may .be had toi' the interior ofthe." combustion chamber. through the openings 1n the channel .Walls throughout the entire length of saidjchannelri 9. A furnace:constructlon comprising the combustlon chamber, the. grate supported in an: inclined position Withinthe combustionchamber, a substantially inclosed: fuel re;

A furnace construction comprising the ceiving: channel Within-the furnace extencb ing transversely substantially clear across and in; front ofthe upper end of the grate,

thenbottom of the: channel being; inclined toivard: the (grate; and the. front and rear Walls of sa-1dfchannel each havlng. an: opening... extending; transversely substantially" throughout their lengthp-said openings being substantially in alinement with the fuel supporting surface of the grate, means for feeding fuel into said channel, means for distributing the fuel transversely therein, and a ram working within the channel for pushing the fuel from the channel on to the grate, said distributing means and the openings in the Walls of the channel being located in different horizontal planes, whereby access may be had to the interior of the combustion chamber through the openings in the channel walls throughout the entire length of said channel.

10. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, the grate supported within the combustion chamber, a fuel receiving channel extending substantially clear across in front of the fuel receiving end of the grate, said channel being located between the front furnace wall and an inner wall, a firebrick section supported on the rear face of the inner wall and extending substantially the length of the channel, a fire door pivoted above the channel and with its lower edge resting on the firebrick section, when the door is in closed position, means for feeding fuel into said channel, and means for distributing the fuel transversely in the channel.

11. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, the grate supported within the combustion chamber, a fuel receiving channel extending substantially clear across the front of the fuel receiving end of the grate, said channel located between the front furnace wall and an inner wall, a firebrick section supported on the rear face of the inner wall and extending substan tially the length of the channel, arfire door. pivoted above the channel comprising a metallic frame and a rear firebrick section supported by said metallic frame, the metal of said fire door resting on the firebrick section of the innerwall when the door is in closed position, means for feeding fuel into said channel, and means for distributing the fuel transversely in the channel.

12. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, the grate supported within the combustion chamber, a substantially inclosed fuel receiving channel within the furnace extending transversely substantially clear across and in front of the fuel receiving end of the grate, a chute for depositing fuel at one end of the channel, a pivoted sweep for pushing fuel deposited by the chute into said channel, a power shaft, and yielding connections between said power shaft and the sweep for operating the latter.

13. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, the grate su1oported Within the combustion chamber, a substantially inclosed fuel receiving channel within the furnace extending transversely substantially clear across and in front of the fuel receiving end of the grate, a chute for deposited fuel at one'end of the channel, a pivoted sweep for pushingfuel deposited by the chute into said channel, a. power shaft, and connections between the power shaft and the sweep for operatingthe latter, said connections including a spring yieldable under pressure of the fuel on the sweep.

14. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, a chute, a fuel-receiving channel on each side of the chute from which fuel is fed into the combustion chamber, a pivoted sweep beneath the chute for pushing fuel alternately into said channels, a power shaft and sweep-operating connections yieldable under pressure of fuel packed in said channels on either or both sides of the sweep and interposed between said power shaft and the sweep, whereby the power shaft is free to rotate when the sweep is prevented from moving by the packing of fuel on both sides of the sweep.

15. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, a chute, a fuel receiving channel on each side of the chute from which fuel is fed into the combustion chamher, a pivoted sweep beneath the chute for pushing fuel alternately into said channels, a power shaft, and connections between said power shaft and the sweep for swinging the latter, said connections including a pair of springs, one yieldable under pressure of fuel packed in a channel on one side of the sweep and the other yieldable under pressure of fuel packed in the channel 011 the other side of the sweep, whereby thep'ower shaft is free to rotate whenthe sweep is prevented. from moving by the packing of fuel on both sides of the sweep.

16. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, a chute, a fuel-receiving channel on each side of the chute from which fuel is fed into the combustion cham her, a pivoted sweep beneath the chute for pushing fuel alternately into said channels, said sweep being spaced from the bottom of said channels, a power shaft, and connections between said power shaft and the sweep for swinging the latter, said connections including a pair of springs compressible independently of each other, one spring yieldable under pressure of fuel packed on one side of the sweep-and the other spring yieldable under pressure of fuel packed on the other side of the sweep, whereby the power shaft is free to rotate when the sweep is prevented from moving by the packing of fuel on both sides of the sweep.

17. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, the grate, a fuel receiving channel from which fuel is fed into the combustion chamber, said channel including a fuel supporting surface located in front of the grate, a ram for imshing fuel on to the grate embodying a plate adapted to be reciprocated over said fuel supporting surface, said ram having longitudinally 'extending slots, and a cover plate mounted over said ram having vertical depending flangesrcsting on the fuel-supporting su-rface of thechannel and received within the slots of the ram.

18, A furnace construction comprising-the combustion chamber, the grate, a fuel-receiving channel from which fuel is fed into the combustion chamber, said channel including a fuel supporting surface located in front of the grate, a ram for pushing fuel on to the grate embodying a plate adapted tov be reciprocated over said fuel-supporting surface, said plate having slots extending longitudinally from its inner edge, the up per surface of the plate being downwardly curved along the sides of the slots, and a cover plate mounted" over the ram having vertical depending-flanges restingon the fuel supportin surface of the channel and received wit inthe slots ofthc'ra'm, said cover plate having transverse curved webs above the curved portions of the ram.

19. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, the grate supported Within the/combustion chamber, a substantially inclosed fuel receiving channel within the furnace extending transversely substantially clear across and in front of the fuel receiving end of the entire grate surface of the furnace, aplurality of chutes arranged at intervals along said channel for deposit ing fuel in the channel, pivoted sweeps working beneath the discharge ends of the chutes for pushing fuel deposited by the chutes transversely into the channel, and

means for oscillating said sweeps in unison.

20. A furnace constructioncomprisingthe combustion chamber, the grate supported within the combustion chamber, a substan tially inclosedfuel receiving channel within.

the furnace extending transversclysubstantially clear across and in front of the fuel receiving-end of the entire-grate surface of the furnace, a plurality of chutes, arranged at intervals along said channel for depositing fuel in the channel, pivoted sweeps working beneath the discharge ends of the chutes for pushing fueldeposited by the chutes transversely into the channel, and a single power shaft and connections between said power shaft and the sweeps.

21. A furnace construction comprising the combustion chamber, the grate supported within the chamber, a fuel receiving channel in the front wall of the furnace extending transversel substantially clear across and in front of the fuel receiving end of the grate, a chute for depositing fuel in the channel, means for distributing the fuel transversely'in the channel, a power shaft,

and'connections between the power shaft anddistributing-means for operating the latter, said connections including a spring yield ableunder pressure of the-fuel on the fuel distributing means; l v

22. A furnace constructioncomprising-the combustion chamber, the grate supported Withinthe chamber, a fuelreceiving chair nel in the front wall of the furnace extending transversely substantially clear across and in front of the fuel 'receiving end" of the rate, the front and rearwalls of the channel havin 1 openings therein extending transversely t ro'ughout substantially their entire length, a chute for depositing fuel: in the channel, a sweep for pushing-fuel deposited by the chute into-said channel, said sweep beingspaced from the bottom of the channel and positioned above the transverse openingsin the wallsof the latter, whereby access may be had to the combustion chamber through the openings in the channel walls throughout the entire breadth of the WILLIAM Meeniavn Obpie'mofltlflm patentv may be obtained? ton flve cents each, by, addressing), the: Commissioner oi: Patents,

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